episode_0013

As soon as Vivian started running, she took out her pocket watch.

If you come in within the time I set, you pass.

If you don’t come in, you get hit with a hammer.

Vivian was the only person playing on this playground.

Each of the aspirants glanced at Vivian while training or taking classes.

It was a look filled with doubt as to what it was doing.

The training method used in this world is very simple.

If you want to be good at magic, just work hard at it.

If you want to be good with a sword, you just sharpen it all day.

Well, it’s not wrong.

Even if you do that, your skills will improve, but there are limits.

To put it bluntly, it is so inefficient that it cannot rise above a certain level.

It’s similar to how when learning Taekwondo, you don’t become good at it just by kicking.

You need to improve your physical abilities in various areas, such as flexibility, endurance, and quickness, and apply them to actual practice.

Knights, archers, and those who use their bodies also engage in various exercises.

However, no one knows how to proceed with complex training gradually and systematically.

Also, no one knows that physical exercise is important, even for wizards and priests.

This is because they believe that magic and miracles have nothing to do with the body.

Unfortunately, it was all wrong.

“Huh, huh, huh… .”

Vivian gasped after turning around.

It’s been a while since I exceeded the time limit I set.

“Good job.”

Still, I praise you.

I didn’t expect it to arrive on time from the beginning.

“Hehe, hehe… .”

Even though he is breathing heavily, he smiles when I praise him.

I hit the hammer on that smiling face.

-Pop!

“Hiyak!”

Even if I lightly tapped him, he was startled.

“It’s still late, so you should get hit.”

“Ugh… sorry… .”

“Now, let’s run 4 more laps.”

“Yes? 4 laps… ?”

“This time too, one for each time I’m late. You must keep running without stopping in the middle.”

“Now, take a breath… .”

“Run.”

He gave instructions with a soft smile, and Vivian was sobbing as she tied her hair with the string Taylor had given her.

“Ugh… .”

Vivian bundled up tightly and ran again.

Do not take too long of a break.

When your body heats up, you need to keep moving and pumping your heart.

Despite being mortally wounded, Vivian ran quite well.

Of course, I couldn’t get in on time.

Every time she passed in front of me, she pounded her hammer hard, and I also did not spare any advice.

-Pop!

“Geek!”

“Breathe in through your nose! Spit it out with your mouth!”

-Pop!

“Yes!”

“Jump on your heels! Give your stomach strength!”

-Pop!

“Wognac!”

“Lift your head! If you don’t jump outside the edge, it won’t be accepted!”

The last four laps.

-Pop!

“Hmph!”

Vivian never made it in time.

But the time was shorter than before.

This was enough to follow along.

Considering that I suffered from nutritional deficiencies, it exceeded my expectations.

“Good job.”

“Ugh… .”

It’s so difficult that I sit down on the floor and can’t even answer.

I handed over the water bag stored in my subspace pocket.

Vivian nodded and took a gulp of water.

“Let’s take a break and then run 5 more laps.”

“Puup-!”

Oh my, I never thought I would love it so much that I would want to run right away.

“All, five laps… ?”

“Yes. If you feel bad, should I run more?”

“No, no! no! All in all, I’ll do five laps!”

Very passionate.

Looks good.

Vivian, who was sufficiently rested, ran again.

Even though he had an expression that was close to crying, he became serious again while running.

Among the aspirants who glanced at her, some laughed.

Vivian bit her lip every time she passed them.

It was admirable to see him persevere even though he was worried.

Kylie and Aria even argued that they couldn’t do it because they were embarrassed.

“You’re running pretty well.”

Mercy also had quite an eye for vision.

That’s because I often watch the first party members train.

“He seems to follow what he says well. What do you think?”

“Well, my thoughts are similar.”

Vivian’s running form has become more believable.

Hold your upper body straight, tighten your stomach, and straighten your legs.

Now all I have to do is speed things up a bit.

-Pop!

“Gruck!”

“Your posture is good, so run a little faster!”

“Yes!”

Although they are having a hard time, they run harder when you praise them.

At some point, I stopped caring whether others were looking at me or not.

Mercy is cheering from the side.

While Katy, who had transformed into a cat earlier, was taking a nap.

Vivian ran and ran.

And finally the last lap.

-Pop!

“Sigh!”

After completing 10 laps, Vivian fell to the ground as if she was falling apart.

Although he didn’t arrive on time, he did better than I expected.

To be honest, I didn’t know I would complete 10 laps.

“You worked hard. It’s really over now.”

He handed me some water and said.

“Neue… .”

Vivian seemed to have no strength to drink water and just lay down for a while after receiving the bag.

Mercy, who was squatting next to him, also praised him.

“You played really well! To be honest, I was worried that I might collapse in the middle!”

“Hehe, hehe… . Did I really, really do well… .”

“Yes! Ian also praised me for being good, so I’m sure!”

… Did you?

Vivian seems to like it, so let’s move on.

“Ian too… .”

He looked up with shining eyes at those words, and then suddenly lowered the corners of his mouth.

Vivian went from laughing to looking like she was going to cry.

“But… I couldn’t even get in on time… . Is it really true that I did a good job? ?”

It would be difficult for that self-deprecating personality to change overnight.

Today was also the first day of training.

But I can see things changing very little.

Although he spoke as if he was unsure, his voice was alive.

This is not to blame yourself for not being as good as you were before.

The response was that they wanted to do better, but were disappointed that they couldn’t.

Even that small change was enough.

In times like this, it’s good to cheer them up with praise.

It’s true that you actually did well.

“Is there anyone who is good at it from the beginning? I’m not just saying this, you did much better than I expected.”

“Really… ?”

“Why would you lie? It’s time, you just have to reduce it further.”

“In the future… .”

After saying those words for a while, Vivian answered with a bright smile.

“I will do better in the future!”

It was the first time for me to see Vivian smile like this.

***

Campground of the 1st warrior party.

Today is the last day of overnight stay.

Tomorrow, you will be able to go to a nearby city, show your face to the citizens, and enjoy a dinner in a luxurious room.

Just imagining it is a gratifying experience to exchange stories with the city’s nobles or high-ranking people and receive praise.

Sylvia went out far away from the camp, thinking about tomorrow.

It’s been a few days since Ian left, so I gave up on leaking.

However, there was another problem on her mind now.

“… … .”

She looked up at the cliff in front of her.

There were 13 large ice spears stuck on the rugged rock cliff.

Sylvia’s magic was powerful enough to cut down even the cliffs of mountains.

As always, the casting pass and multi-casting were still the same.

Her magic was powerful.

Even after a long time since Ian left.

but… .

‘… It’s annoying.’

Mana circulating in open circuits is not as smooth as it used to be.

I really don’t know the cause.

Even though the amount of food I ate remained the same and my training time was reduced and I got more rest.

The magic was not cast as smoothly as it was rested.

‘Is it because of my mood…? .’

Sylvia decided to try another magic.

“Lava Bomb, Water Barrier, Water Fall.”

Beyond multicasting, which is using multiple spells of one spell.

Complex multicasting that uses multiple magics simultaneously.

The ground beneath the cliff suddenly rose, and lava burst out.

At the same time, a curtain of water spread around Sylvia, blocking the lava and stone debris.

A waterfall fell from thin air and quickly solidified the lava.

Hot steam spread out around the area like a storm.

Her magic was still powerful, and she was able to process complex calculations simultaneously.

Still, it feels somewhat uncomfortable.

“Ha… .”

I feel frustrated.

I tried talking to Penny about this, but she asked if Sylvia, the wizard, should know better.

That reaction was so unfamiliar.

Every time I asked a question, Ian came up with an answer like a machine, and even if he couldn’t come up with an answer, he thought about it with me.

Even when Sylvia left the problem to me and told me I didn’t know, Ian would think about it on his own and then tell me the answer.

Now what was so obvious has disappeared.

Everything just felt so unexpected.

‘… What do we do.’

Kylie, Aria, Beatrice.

Those three seemed to just like this situation, so I couldn’t ask them anything.

‘stuffy… .’

It was an unanswerable question.

If I meet Ian, will I be able to hear the answer?

Can we meet?

Sylvia doesn’t know where Ian, who left, is doing now.

I’ve never been curious about it before.

I’m so disgusted with myself for wondering about that now.

The reality of not being able to change anything no matter how curious I was was so terrible.

‘Will I never be able to see you from now on? .’

I didn’t think anything of it when I left.

All she felt was the pleasure of getting back at the man who had betrayed her confession and used her.

I never thought about what happened after that.

Only now, when it is too late.

Even setting aside the possibility of being able to hear his answer.

I was curious about just one thing.

‘Will I ever see Ian again?’

Even if Ian didn’t answer, Sylvia seemed to know the answer.

She shook her head to shake off her thoughts, restored the collapsed cliff using rock magic, and returned.

‘Let’s only think good thoughts. I’m going to the city tomorrow, so I’ll be able to see a lot of people who like me… .’

*

“Wow-!”

As soon as the castle gate opened, shouts came rushing in.

It was noisy even when it was closed, but it was nothing compared to when it was open.

The carriage carrying the first warrior party has now entered the city of Badenberg.

The warriors, one by one, boarded the open-fronted carriage and faced the cheers of the citizens.

It was a shout so hot that it made my skin go numb.

Citizens chanted the names of the warriors.

“Kylie! Kylie!”

Kylie nodded solemnly.

“Aria-!”

Aria smiled kindly and waved her hand.

“Beatrice! Please take a look here!”

Beatrice playfully winked or kissed her hand.

“Silvia! You’re the best, Sylvia-!”

Sylvia stood up and actively waved both arms.

The gloomy appearance from yesterday was gone.

Every time your name pierces your ears like thunder.

Every time I look down at the public’s eyes filled with envy.

Sylvia realized that she was alive here.

And inside the carriage that comes in at the back, you can’t see the outside.

Penny and Baron Ludwig, master of the city of Badenberg, were riding together.

“Thank you very much for accepting the invitation.”

“If you can contribute to the stability of the city, you should do so.”

The two exchanged well-wishes with friendly smiles.

“Anyway, I didn’t know Ian was that kind of person… . It’s shocking.”

“It’s a good thing that I found out now.”

He had just said that he had been expelled for stealing money from the first warrior party and harassing party members.

“By any chance, Philip, do you know this too?”

“I guess you don’t know. He doesn’t reveal himself very much and he likes to see the forest rather than the trees.”

“Uh huh… .”

Ludwig frowned his eyebrows and stroked his beard as if he felt sorry.

But to Penny, it was more of a relief.

Even if Ian leaves, Philip is still in the first party, so I feel relieved that I can trust him.

When you become a noble, you know that Philip’s existence is not just an illusion.

“So, I would like to ask if there are any useful dungeons around here.”

“Hmm. That’s because you can’t contact Philip.”

Penny just smiled and nodded.

Deep down, I didn’t want to laugh.

I need to find out Philip’s residence as soon as possible or send a letter from there.

There is no sign of that happening at all.

That’s why I stayed overnight longer than planned.

They were afraid that Philip might miss them.

Believing that nothing like that would happen to Philip, he belatedly came to Badenberg today.

“I understand. Since you came all the way here, let me find out that much information.”

“Thank you.”

“But there is one thing… I wonder if it would be okay if I ask you a favor.”

Ludwig asked cautiously.

“Tell me.”

“Thanks to the hard work of the first party, a good harvest has come to our city, which is close to the demon camp. However, because the trade route was not active, the black barley harvested last fall ended up piling up in the castle barn.”

Penny nodded, knowing what to say next.

“I would be very grateful if you from the first party could say some good things about our city’s specialties, black barley and beer… .”

I’ve heard a lot about it, but this was my first time actually experiencing it.

Famous hero parties receive countless offers like this, not to mention the first party, which is the pinnacle of this.

But the first party has never accepted such an offer.

That was Ian’s policy.

If he accepted, all kinds of support would pour in, and all kinds of luxuries and favors would be showered on him, but Ian refused.

Penny considered Ian a coward, and later, a traitor.

Ian must have been afraid that the first party warriors would find out his worth.

It was clear that he wanted to avoid something that would make him unable to hold it in his hands and shake it.

This is one of the reasons why Ian considered the first party to be a corrosive seed.

Penny, of course, had no reason to refuse this offer.

“Ah, feel free to decline… .”

“No, I will.”

“Yes?”

Ian has refused all promotional approaches.

The reason is simple.

This is because you cannot trust those who want publicity.

It was obvious that if something went wrong later on, it would have a negative impact on the party that helped with good intentions.

Since there was no shortage of money, Ian ruled out any risk factors.

In other words, this promotion that Penny accepted was the first of the first party.

“It’s not a bad thing, so why would there be any reason to refuse it?”

“Ha, haha… . Hahaha!”

It seemed like he couldn’t believe it, but Ludwig laughed heartily.

“I understand why Ian was kicked out. You are also famous as a member of the Managers Guild, and you are indeed a worthy person. Penny.”

“Nothing to say. Just do the right thing and do the right thing.”

I just wanted to receive for Ian what Philip should have received a long time ago.

By ‘the worthy one’ she meant him.

“I will deliver it to the warriors.”

“Thank you so much. We at Badenberg will give you an unforgettable night.”

Penny and Ludwig looked at each other and smiled.

*

Several days have passed since the night of the noisy banquet.

Penny finally asked Ludwig for information about the Class A dungeon.

She called the four warriors who were still sober and finished introducing them to the dungeon.

“… What?”

Kylie couldn’t believe her ears.

“Are you kidding me?”

Other warriors had similar reactions.

Annoyance appeared on their faces, which had been drunk just a moment ago.